Willow Burn Derwentside Hospice Care Foundation

What Willow Burn Derwentside Hospice Care Foundation does

Willow Burn Derwentside Hospice Care Foundation is a registered charity (Derwentside Hospice Care Foundation, charity number 519659, company number 2263960) operating as Willow Burn Hospice from a purpose-built facility in Lanchester, County Durham, UK. Founded in 1989, the hospice delivers specialist palliative and end-of-life care to adults with life-limiting illnesses across County Durham, operating the Helen McArdle In-Patient Wing for round-the-clock nursing care, the Sir Tom Cowie Day Services (nurse-led day hospice), and a Family Support and Bereavement Service covering counselling from diagnosis through bereavement. Clinical services are delivered free at point of care by a team led by CEO David Barker MBE, supported by palliative care consultants, a Sessional GP with Specialist Interest, and a Head of Clinical Services.

The organisation operates a diversified income model combining NHS commissioning via the North Durham Integrated Care Board, voluntary donations and community fundraising (including the Friends of Willow Burn regular giving scheme, the Unity Lottery, and challenge events such as the Great North Run), retail operations across three charity shops (Consett, Stanley, Lanchester boutique), an online retail presence on eBay, Depop, and Vinted, and ancillary community assets such as Willows Café, the Potting Shed garden and gift shop, the Tea Hatch at Shotley Bridge Hospital, EV charging facilities, and a furniture partnership with CDFHS (County Durham Furniture Help Scheme). In 2026, the hospice launched an original illustrated children's bereavement book, 'Will O'Burn and the Friends Who Remember', as both a community resource and a commercial product priced at £8.99.

The hospice is recognised as the only hospice serving Derwentside, with a CQC 'Outstanding' rating for responsiveness and an overall 'Good' rating awarded in 2026. The community strategy, branded 'Compassionate Willow Burn', anchors engagement across schools, corporate partners, and volunteer programmes. Distribution is primarily regional and direct: clinical services are accessed via healthcare professional referrals, while retail and community engagement reach County Durham residents through physical and online channels. Recent strategic activity has focused on clinical leadership renewal, facility refurbishment of the Sir Tom Cowie Health and Wellbeing Centre (July to October 2026), and new product and partnership extensions.

Name

Willow Burn Derwentside Hospice Care Foundation

Legal name

Derwentside Hospice Care Foundation

Website

https://willow-burn.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Willow Burn is a registered charity operating the only hospice in Derwentside, delivering specialist palliative and end-of-life care, day services, and bereavement support to adults across County Durham, funded by NHS commissioning, donations, and retail operations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospice and Palliative Care Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Hospice / Hospice House (Facility-Based) (HLADAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Hospice-Affiliated/Independent) (HLADAHAL), Hospice & Palliative Respite Care (HSABAGAG), Palliative Care, Hospice & Serious Illness Support (BPAGACAK)

Keywords

• Hospice care services
• Palliative care
• End-of-life care
• Bereavement support
• Charity retail

Headquarters

HQ city

Lanchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations and Fundraising: Voluntary donations from individuals, families, and community members including regular giving (Friends of Willow Burn), one-off donations, and in-memory donations. Supplemented by community fundraising events, challenge events (Great North Run, Inflatable 5K), school fundraising, corporate partnerships, and lottery programme.
2. Retail Operations: Three physical charity shops in Stanley, Consett, and Lanchester (boutique format) selling pre-loved clothing, homeware, bric-a-brac. Also operates The Potting Shed garden and gift shop at the hospice. Online sales through eBay, Depop, and Vinted. A furniture partnership with CDFHS generates 20% of sales for donated items.
3. NHS and Integrated Care Board Funding: Partial funding received through the North Durham Integrated Care Board for palliative and end-of-life care services, consistent with NHS commissioning of hospice services in England.
4. Lottery and Gaming: Unity Lottery programme generating regular income from participants.
5. Children's Book Sales: Sale of illustrated children's book 'Will O'Burn and the Friends Who Remember' at £8.99 per copy through hospice shops, online, and at Shotley Bridge Hospital Tea Hatch. Also accepts book donations to distribute to children and families who may find it difficult to access the resource.
6. Memorial and Tribute Programmes: Memories in Bloom flower sponsorship programme at minimum £10 per flower, and other in-memory giving and tribute opportunities such as Everlasting Leaf memorial items.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Willow Burn Hospice provides specialist palliative and end-of-life care services to adults with life-limiting illness in County Durham, including in-patient care (Helen McArdle In-Patient Wing), nurse-led day services (Sir Tom Cowie Health and Wellbeing Centre), family support and bereavement counselling, complementary therapies, dementia support, and advance care planning workshops. The hospice supplements its clinical services with a community-funded model encompassing charity retail shops, online sales, community cafés, memorial programmes, and a dedicated children's bereavement book.

Product overview

Willow Burn Derwentside Hospice Care Foundation operates as a hospice care provider offering a portfolio of interconnected services centered on palliative and end-of-life care. The core clinical services include the Helen McArdle In-Patient Wing for round-the-clock patient care, and the Sir Tom Cowie Day Services for daytime support. Family Support and Bereavement Services provides counselling from diagnosis through bereavement. These clinical services are complemented by retail operations including charity shops in Stanley, Consett, and Lanchester, plus online stores on eBay, Depop, and Vinted. Community engagement is supported through The Willows Café, The Potting Shed garden shop, and the Tea Hatch at Shotley Bridge Hospital. The hospice also offers memorial programs like Memories in Bloom and publishes educational resources including the Will O'Burn children's bereavement book.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Will O'Burn and the Friends Who Remember: An illustrated children's picture book created to help open meaningful, age-appropriate conversations about grief. Authored by Victoria Downes with illustrations by Helen Turner.
• Compassionate Willow Burn

Products and services

• Helen McArdle In-Patient Wing In-patient palliative and end-of-life care facility with ensuite bedrooms, a spa bathroom, family lounge, and 24/7 nursing support for adults with life-limiting illnesses in County Durham. Services are free at point of care and accessed via healthcare professional referral.
• Sir Tom Cowie Day Services Nurse-led day services supporting people to 'live well with their illness' through appropriately focused therapeutic sessions, social care, and peer support. Designed to be responsive to the needs and wishes of patients with life-limiting illness.
• Family Support and Bereavement Services Counselling and support services provided to anyone suffering from life-limiting illness, their families and carers, from diagnosis through pre-death, post-death and throughout the bereavement process. Includes children's bereavement support.
• Complementary Therapy Programme Dedicated complementary therapy service delivering therapies including hand massage to patients and their carers, easing depression, anxiety and stress associated with living with a life-limiting illness and improving quality of life.
• Willow Burn Hospice Charity Shops Three physical charity shops (Consett, Stanley, and Lanchester Boutique) selling pre-loved clothing, homeware, and bric-a-brac to raise funds for hospice care. Open six days a week.
• Willow Burn Online Shops 24/7 online shopping via eBay, Depop, and Vinted platforms selling vintage, second-hand, and sustainable fashion to raise funds for the hospice.
• The Potting Shed Garden & Gift Shop Garden and gift shop located at the hospice selling plants, garden items, and gifts, with all proceeds supporting hospice care.
• Memories in Bloom Memorial Programme Annual memorial programme allowing supporters to sponsor ceramic flowers in the hospice gardens in memory of loved ones, with wooden plaques bearing names. Minimum donation of £10 per flower, with 2026 dedications accepted via the enthuse platform.
• Will O'Burn and the Friends Who Remember (Children's Book) Illustrated children's picture book about grief and bereavement, priced at £8.99, designed to help children understand and express their feelings about loss. Available at hospice shops, online, and at Shotley Bridge Hospital Tea Hatch.
• The Willows Café Community café at the hospice open to visitors, patients, and the public, serving as a community hub and supporting engagement with the hospice's services.
• The Tea Hatch at Shotley Bridge Hospital Refreshment service at Shotley Bridge Hospital offering hot and cold drinks and snacks for patients, staff, and visitors, operated by Willow Burn volunteers as a community engagement touchpoint.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% positive patient and family survey responses
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Amethyst HomesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunder of the children's book 'Will O'Burn and the Friends Who Remember', contributing to the cost of commissioning the illustrated bereavement book for children.
• Conside Masonic LodgeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunder of the children's book 'Will O'Burn and the Friends Who Remember', contributing to the cost of commissioning the illustrated bereavement book for children.
• Consett RotaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunder of the children's book 'Will O'Burn and the Friends Who Remember', contributing to the cost of commissioning the illustrated bereavement book for children.
• Durham FreemasonsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunder of the children's book 'Will O'Burn and the Friends Who Remember', contributing to the cost of commissioning the illustrated bereavement book for children.
• Wolsingham SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunder of the children's book 'Will O'Burn and the Friends Who Remember', contributing to the cost of commissioning the illustrated bereavement book for children.
• CDFHS (County Durham Furniture Help Scheme)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDedicated furniture partnership providing a donation route and sales channel for furniture. CDFHS handles storage, sales, and distribution, and donates 20% of sales revenue to Willow Burn Hospice for all referrals code 'WILLOW'. Customers quote 'WILLOW' code at CDFHS to ensure the hospice receives its share. This partnership solves the space limitations preventing direct furniture acceptance in hospice shops.
• Hospice UKminorOthersNational membership organisation for hospice and palliative care. Willow Burn Hospice is a member, providing access to sector resources, advocacy, and best practice sharing.
• Charity Retail AssociationminorOthersUK membership body for charity retailers. Willow Burn Hospice is a member, supporting the charity shop operations through sector representation and best practice.
• North Durham Integrated Care BoardcoreOthersStatutory NHS body responsible for commissioning healthcare services in North Durham. Provides partial funding for palliative and end-of-life care services at Willow Burn Hospice through NHS commissioning arrangements.
• Macmillan Cancer SupportminorOthersWillow Burn Hospice holds the Macmillan Quality Environment Mark (MQEM), a certification programme run by Macmillan Cancer Support for assessing the quality of environments in which cancer care is delivered.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Marie Curie: National UK charity providing hospice and end-of-life care across multiple sites and home-based nursing services. Operates at much greater scale than Willow Burn and overlaps in palliative care delivery and bereavement support, but as a national portfolio rather than a single-community hospice.
• Macmillan Cancer Support: National cancer support charity that issues the Macmillan Quality Environment Mark held by Willow Burn and funds palliative care professionals across UK hospices. An enabler and sector-standard setter rather than a direct operator, but materially comparable in the cancer/palliative ecosystem.
• Sue Ryder: National UK charity operating multiple hospices, neurological care centres, and bereavement services. Directly comparable care offerings (palliative and end-of-life care, bereavement support) but as part of a broad multi-site portfolio rather than a single community hospice.

Others

• Hospice UK: National membership and advocacy body for UK hospices of which Willow Burn is a member. Provides sector representation, benchmarking, and policy advocacy rather than direct care; relevant as the umbrella ecosystem in which Willow Burn operates.

Direct peers

• Willow Wood Hospice: Charity hospice in Ashton-under-Lyne serving the Tameside and Glossop area with in-patient palliative care, day services, and family support. Similar scale, similar diversified fundraising model with charity shops and community engagement.
• Teesside Hospice: Charity hospice in Middlesbrough providing in-patient palliative care, day services, family support and bereavement care across Teesside. Operates a similar integrated hospice + charity shop model serving a comparable North East England population.
• St Teresa's Hospice: Independent charity hospice in Darlington providing in-patient, day, and bereavement services across County Durham and Tees Valley. Closest geographic peer to Willow Burn with a comparable care model, NHS commissioning relationship, and charity-retail fundraising mix.
• St Oswald's Hospice: Larger North East England hospice in Newcastle offering specialist palliative care, day services, and bereavement support for adults and children. Comparable in service scope and NHS/charity funding mix; more established and larger scale than Willow Burn.
• St Catherine's Hospice: Charity hospice in Scarborough serving North and East Yorkshire with in-patient, day therapy, and bereavement services plus a network of charity shops. Closely comparable business model combining NHS grant funding with community retail fundraising.
• Trinity Hospice and Palliative Care Services: Charity hospice in Blackpool serving the Fylde Coast with in-patient, day therapy, and bereavement services. Comparable independent-charity hospice with multi-site retail and community fundraising operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/willow_burn
• Facebookfacebook.com/willowburnhospicelanchester

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Willow Burn Derwentside Hospice Care Foundation